VIII. When we fee how eagerly the Illuminati

endeavoured to inlinuate their Brethren into all of- fices which gave them influence on the public mind, and particularly into feminaries of education, we fhould be particularly careful to prevent them, and ought to examine with anxious attention the manner of thinking of all who offer themfelves for teachers of youth. There is no part of the fecret corref- pondence of Spartacus and his Affociates, in v^hich we fee moie varied and artful methods for fecuring pnpils, than in his own condud refpecfting the ffu- dents in the Univerfity, and the injundions he gives to others. There are two men, Socher and Drexl,
who
CHAP. IV. THE FRENCH REVOLUTION. 3^1
who had the general infpedion of the fchools in the Eledorate. They are treated by Spartacus as perfons of the greatetl: confequence, and the inilruvftions given them (lick at no kind of corruption. Wei- ftiaupt is at pains, circuitous and mean arts, to in- duce young gentlemen to come under his care, and, to one whom he defcribes in another letter as a little mafter who muft have much indulgence, he caufes it to be intimated, that in the quarters where he is to be lodged, he will get the key of the ftreet-door, fo that be can admit whom he will. In all this can- vafling he never quits the great objed, the forming the mind of the young man according to the princi- ples of univerfal Liberty and Equality, and to gain this point, fcruples not to flatter, aud even to excite his dangerous paflfions. We may be certain, that the zeal of Cofmo-politifm will operate in the fame way in other men, and we ought therefore to be fo- licitous to have all that are the inftru6lors of youth, perfons of the mofi: decent manners. No queflion but fobriety and hypocrify may inhabit the fame brealL But its immediate effedl on the pupil is at leaft fafe, and it is always eafy for a fenfible parent to reprefent the reftridions laid on the pupil by fuch a man as the effeds of uncommon anxiety for his fafety. Whereas there is no cure for the lax principles that may ileal upon the tender mind that is not early put on its guard. Weifhaupt undoubt- edly thought that the principles of civil anarchy would be eafiefl: inculcated on minds, that had al- ready fhaken off the reftraints of Religion, and en- tered into habits of fenfual indulgence. We fhall be fafe if we irufl: his judguient in this matter. — We ftiould be particularly obfervant of the charac- ter and principles of Men of Talents^ who offer themfelves for thefe offices, becaufe their influence muft be very great. Indeed this anxiety (liould ex- tend
35^2 THE FRENCH REVOLUTION. CHAP, iv,
tend to all offices which in any way give holders any remarkable influence on the minds of conhderable numbers. Such (hould always be filled by men of immaculate characters and approved principles; and, in times like the prefent, where the moil: eflential queftions are the fubjeds of frequent difcuiTion, we ihould always confider with fome diflruil: the men who are very cautious in declaring their opinions on thefe quefiions.
It is a great misfortune undoubtedly to feel our- ielves in a lituaLion which makes us damp the en- joyments of life with fo much fufpicicn. But the hiflory of mankind (hows us that many great revo- lutionsi have been produced by remote and appa- rently frivolous caufes. When things come to a height, it is frequently impoilible to tind a cure — - at any rate rnedicinafero paratur^ and it is much bet- ter to prevent the dAitdS^^—principiis ohjia — venienti occurriie morbo,